Downtown Ottumwa will soon have a newly revamped parking lot. The parking lot nearest Jefferson Street Bridge (behind Appanoose Rapids Brewing Company) will soon be redone and will serve as the gold standard for all downtown parking lot construction projects. Currently, the parking lot is full of potholes, not well lit and unattractive but will soon host a newly paved surface, beautiful new lights that will match those being added to the Market Street Bridge and the addition of landscaping to “green” up the space. “In the past parking lots were only thought of in utilitarian ways,” commented Brad Little, ORLF President and CEO. “Now parking lots can be both practical and beautiful.” Although there are many parking lots in downtown Ottumwa that could use a facelift, this one was chosen to build on the momentum of all the revitalization work being done in the 300 block of Main Street. This project has been made possible because of a partnership between the City of Ottumwa and the Ottumwa Regional Legacy Foundation and should be completed this summer.